Would you let your ds join the Boy Scouts? - Page 5

[A&A]

Here the B.S. are strongly associated with one particular religion......so probably not, because I wouldn't want my son to feel like an outsider because of his religion (or lack thereof).

[crunchywannabe]

Originally Posted by TiredX2

I must have misunderstood. You said, "We just don't want the girls involved in an organization that goes against what we teach our children" in regards to Girl Scouts being associated with Planned Parenthood and then provided a link calling PP "Pro-Abortion" so I assumed that what went against your beliefs/what you teach your children was reproductive choice.

Now I really don't understand what you meant.

And I still think that calling PP PRO-ABORTION is offensive. If there is a lot of information about there about this link between GS & PP, perhaps you could find a different source.

oh! I see what you mean now. I am sorry I was not more clear.

what I meant was that we teach our children to be abstinent....so anything to do with planned parenthood goes against our teachings (whether it be abortion or having brith control.) does that make sense?

there are tons of reports from the news online about the gs and pp link. that just happened to be the first one I pulled up and I was in a hurry to post.

[crunchywannabe]

and I don't think the BS are necessarily *heavily* religious as you might think. (Or you can make it not that way if you prefer) My neighbor is pagan, and both her boys are scouts. She says it has never been an issue.

[A&A]

Originally Posted by crunchywannabe

and I don't think the BS are necessarily *heavily* religious as you might think. (Or you can make it not that way if you prefer) My neighbor is pagan, and both her boys are scouts. She says it has never been an issue.

I think it depends on what state/area you live in. There's just no way to make Boy Scouts non-religious in Utah.

[TiredX2]

Originally Posted by crunchywannabe

oh! I see what you mean now. I am sorry I was not more clear.

what I meant was that we teach our children to be abstinent....so anything to do with planned parenthood goes against our teachings (whether it be abortion or having brith control.) does that make sense?

there are tons of reports from the news online about the gs and pp link. that just happened to be the first one I pulled up and I was in a hurry to post.

Yes, I understand what you mean now.

Can't agree, but understand

[member]

Um, no. I would like to think that if a DC of mine chose to do BSoA I'd be cool, but, no. But I really can't imagine an informed child 'o mine wanting to join.

Yeah, there's the whole homosexuality ban. That's just the icing for me.

Can we say cultural appropriation, exoticification, and historicalizing Native Peoples? Indian guide??? I would get into details, but feel free to Google. My culture is not here for BSoA to use a jumping board for tacky crafts with popscicle sticks nor are Native people, the People of Yesterday.

I can't even imagine sending my DC off into a group that would probably ask to pet him and teach them all our 'spiritual seekrits.' :Puke

[A&A]

And I keep reading about boy scouts getting lost:

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_2811400

So sad. My heart aches for this mother.

[binxsmom]

Originally Posted by Evergreen

I would allow my son to make his own decision about whether or not he wants to participate but I would make certain he is fully aware of thir policies, and let him know he may not be welcome.

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by crunchywannabe

chfriend and Hellokitty--
my girls will not be in girl scouts because of the planned parenthood information they can give out...granted it is decided by the local chapters if they can/want to do it with the girls and is not mandated as part of the national girl scout "rules" but dh and I are firmly against them teaching it to our children.

My girls have been in GS for 2 years and there has never been anything like this at all. GS have a special premission form for meeting/field trips on sensitive topics that has room for the outline of the meeting.

They do radical things like paint t-shirts, go on nature hikes, and sing really silly songs.

[michelle1k]

This is a timeous post...

...we've just come back from a weekend of camping with our local BS pack. My son is 7 and has just finished his first year of being a tiger cub. Although the weekend was a complete culture shock for us (vegan, homeschooling, pacifist, tree-hugging, extended nursing, atheist & Buddhist parents), I think it is important that we stay and that we see more people like ourselves in the BS. I would not have joined if it wasn't for our fantastic den leader whom I consider to be a friend with similar world-views and with whom I hashed out my concerns re the BS's stance on gays and religion in writing before we joined.

For us, it is about balance: our BS den and pack is good wholesome fun and my ds is learning skills he would not learn from us (catch-and-release fishing, wilderness skills, etc.). He is enjoying his time there, wears his uniform proudly, but he is adamant that he won't say "all the God-stuff" - we do insist that he is respectful during times of religious observation (mercifully short so far!).

Warmly,
Michelle

[2much2luv]

THe meeting are held at or church every wednesday night and even though it is at the church, there is NO religion talk. Scouts is scouts and church is church. I guess some would be offended by the fact they pray before a scout outing or camping trip, but . . .

Sorry but :LOL If they pray then it is churchy and contradicts your "scouts is scouts and church is church" statement.

[2much2luv]

Oh, and to answer the op, I don't have a son but if I did he wouldnt be a bs. Thank you so much for the spiral scout link. That looks really neat.

[myjulybabes]

Originally Posted by dynamohumm6

For me, it doesn't matter if the local troop is tolerant, the bigoted administration is still getting support from me if my kid belonged, and I can't hang with that.

Precisely. My ds will not join. However, my brother is a leader of a Venturing Crew (co-ed teen scouting associated with BSA), and they have a non-discrimination clause written into their bylaws. So I still buy pizza from him, because the money only goes to his crew. And it's good pizza. But if the money went to BSA.........no way.

Has anyone heard of an organization or movement called "Scouting for All" or something along those lines? My mom mentioned it in passing, and I haven't had time to look up more info on it yet. Apparently my brother is really into it, I'll have to find out more from him.

ETA: Or I could just google "Scouting for All" real quick. Looks pretty good, in the brief look I gave the page: http://www.scoutingforall.org/

[HelloKitty]

Originally Posted by 2much2luv

Sorry but :LOL If they pray then it is churchy and contradicts your "scouts is scouts and church is church" statement.

Thank you - I thought I was going to have to be the one to point out the obvious but you did it for me :LOL

[bayviewbill33]

I want my ds to participate in Scouts. I think it is a good organization that teaches boys good qualities - honesty, trustworthy, etc. etc. I think it will be good for him to meet other boys and make friends. Their belief in God and their stance on homosexuals does not bother me. I do not recall the Boy Scouts teaching me intolerance towards anyone, of course that was 20 years ago and I doubt (though I will look into it) their literature is teaching boys to intolerance towards gays or non Christians.

[TiredX2]

Originally Posted by bayviewbill33

Their belief in God and their stance on homosexuals does not bother me. I do not recall the Boy Scouts teaching me intolerance towards anyone, of course that was 20 years ago and I doubt (though I will look into it) their literature is teaching boys to intolerance towards gays or non Christians.

Yeah, not allowing them to join a group that is supposedly about camping & scouting (not religion or sexuality) shows real tolerance

[TiredX2]

More of their intolerance:

Petaluma CA-The Boy Scouts of America have adopted a resolution dated February 6, 2002, in which gays and atheists are deemed unfit and unacceptable role models for scout youth. Although the Boy Scouts have had an unwritten policy concerning gays, this is the first time in their 92-year history that it has become an actual resolution.

If you agree with their stance, bayviewbill33, that is your perogative however much I may disagree.

Originally Posted by bayviewbill33

Their belief in God and their stance on homosexuals does not bother me.

But don't pretend they are a tolerant organization.

[HelloKitty]

I think that quote that TiredX just pasted pretty much says it all. Whether it is part of the scount handbook or not, the fact that they ARE an intolerant organization is enough for me. No way would I want my boys associated with or being mentored by people that approve of that way of thinking.

[sugarbeth]

I'm getting trained as a Camp Fire leader tonight! The council loaned me the kindergarten curriculum and it looks like so much fun. I misspoke before, when I said it was a secular organization - that's not entirely true; "Worship God" is their first "law", but apparently a lot of groups change it or leave it out. It's not a requirement or anything. They don't care that I'm an atheist.

So it looks like I'll have the first preschool Camp Fire group in my area - I'm so excited! I definitely recommend looking into Camp Fire where you live, and join or start your own group. It's so easy to get a group going. You get a curriculum with a year's worth of activities outlined, even suggesting what to say at meetings.

(edited by moderator to remove link to another forum as that is against MDC rules)

Personally, I don't see how anyone could be part of such a discriminatory group when there are better alternatives available. Unless maybe you're actively working to change its policies instead of just ignoring them.

[PancakeGoddess]

I just found out there's a spiral scouts circle starting RIGHT in my small town! yay.

<good-natured gloating over>